They ask to investigate the death of a 27-year-old young man for alleged homophobia in Alicante
The LGBTIQ+ Alicante Entiende association says the victim would have tried to flirt with the detainee and claims the collaboration of possible witnesses of the attack
ValenciaAlicante Entiende, an association dedicated to the defense of LGBTIQ+ rights in the Alicante demarcation, demands that the murder of Miguel, a 27-year-old young man who was allegedly attacked by another 22-year-old on Sant Joan beach, be investigated. The events took place on Thursday, August 13, at five in the morning at the Camp de Golf tram stop, and both the victim and the aggressor were returning from a nightclub. According to Alicante Entiende, the victim tried to flirt with the second and he attacked him. "It was a brutal response to an affectionate approach between two men," denounces the association, which asks for "justice, truth, and reparation".
After the assault, the victim was hospitalized with a very serious prognosis and, finally, died. The alleged aggressor was arrested. Sources from the National Police explain that they have no record of any prior argument at the nightclub between the two, and that they did not know each other. In fact, the officers have taken statements from several witnesses and continue with the investigations. The activist association is trying to clarify exactly what happened, and whether during or after the assault there were homophobic insults or attacks, such as the use of the word faggot or other similar expressions and attitudes.
"If you were there and saw or heard anything related to the events, your testimony could be crucial in clarifying what happened and determining if there was LGBTI-phobic motivation," Alicante Entiende published on its social networks. The association states that these testimonies will be provided to the National Police with the aim of "collaborating with the investigation and contributing to the investigation of all the circumstances of the crime".
Recognition of homophobic motivation
The organization has also expressed its concern that this possible homophobic motivation is not recognized and that the victim's sexual orientation and the circumstances of the aggression "do not receive the consideration they deserve". "From the LGBTI collectives, we demand that hate crimes based on sexual orientation be investigated and judged with all guarantees, that the real motivations of the crime be clarified, and that homophobia is not left invisible or normalized. We do not want a justice system that looks the other way," they sentence.
That this motivation is recognized would modify the penalty that the aggressor could receive. According to article 139 of the Penal Code, the penalty for murder would be 15 to 25 years in prison, but with the aggravating factor of discrimination, and without mitigating factors, it could be from 20 to 25 years.
Condemnation of violence and homophobia
Finally, from Alicante Entiende they wanted to express their condolences and said that "we cannot remain indifferent to a life taken away". "We unequivocally condemn homophobia, violence and hate crimes that continue to endanger LGBTI people simply for being and loving freely". And they add: "Miguel should be here. He should be able to date, love, live and enjoy a youth without fear".
The association is in the process of calling a rally in front of the Benalúa courts to put pressure on them to investigate this case and the homophobic motivation they claim exists.
